On September 16, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actor and director Andy Garcia, and entrepreneur William K. Bowes, Jr. were honored at the Independent Institutes A Gala for Liberty. Each honoree received the Alexis de Tocqueville Award in recognition of their contributions to advancing the ideas and ideals of liberty, entrepreneurship, innovation, and peace.

For more than a century U.S. foreign policywhether conducted by Democrats or Republicanshas been based on the assumption that Americans interests are served best by intervening abroad to secure markets, fight potential enemies far from American shores, or engage in democratic nation building. But, what is the record of such policies, including now in Iraq?

The Civil War was a great turning point in American history. It abolished the evil of slavery, established federal power over the states, andparadoxicallycreated precedents that restrict individual freedom today. The ideas and personalities of the Civil War are forever etched in our memory, but they are not merely of historic interest. Based on their acclaimed books, Henry Mayer and Jeffrey Rogers Hummel will discuss the abolitionists, political and business interests, war mobilization and conduct, etc.and how they continue to shape American society.

Jeffrey Rogers Hummel
Professor of Economics, Golden Gate University

Henry E. Mayer
National Book Award Finalist
Author, All on Fire: William Lloyd Garrison and the Abolition of Slavery